Fall 2013 Zoo Connections

A newsletter for the valued supporters of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium October 2013

pittsburghzoo.org

Inside this Issue: Wild Cat Initiative Gives Hope for the Future Great News for the Baby Gorilla Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Announcements

Development Department

Wild Cat Initiative Gives Hope for the Future

Janet Rose

Senior Director of Development 412-365-2540 jrose@pittsburghzoo.org

When you visit the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, you see wild cats everywhere

Sarah Poweska

Amur leopard, Amur tiger, cheetah, lion, and snow leopard. Saving wild cats through

Assistant Director of Development 412-365-2541 spoweska@pittsburghzoo.org

Lori Elder

Member Services Manager 412-365-2534 lelder@pittsburghzoo.org

Amy O’Neill

Foundation & Grants Coordinator 412-365-2543 aoneill@pittsburghzoo.org

Yasmeen Hatcher

Development Coordinator 412-365-2542 yhatcher@pittsburghzoo.org

on exhibit. There are some of the most beautiful and the most endangered, such as the exhibitry, education, and innovative breeding requires an enormous commitment. At the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, we are bringing the wonder and awe of wild cats to thousands of Zoo visitors every year.

The Pittsburgh Zoo has a long and successful history of working with wild cats. For example, on March 31, the Zoo celebrated the birth of a tiger cub. This beautiful bundle of joy was born to fourth-time mother Toma, who was born at a Russian zoo and imported into the

United States as a cub. This has made her the most genetically valuable female Amur tiger

in North America. Paired with Russian born Taiga, one of the top genetically valuable male

tigers in the U.S., their new cub represents the future of genetic diversity in North America.

This Zoo-bred population is vitally important to the future of all Amur tigers. As the number of Amur tigers in the wild continues to plummet, keeping tigers as wild and

Richard Kalson

genetically diverse as possible could be a critical factor in the future of this species.

Dr. Barbara Baker

The recent birth and official naming of this cub, by a family of Grow Wild members,

Chair, Board of Directors President & CEO

continues to bring vital attention and support to the plight of wild tigers. This newest cub is now the most important male tiger in the United States, and he has an official name,

In compiling this report, the development office has made every attempt to ensure that the information is accurate, complete, and listed all contributions accurately. If there are omissions, misspellings, or other errors, please report them to the development office at 412-365-2541 and please accept our apologies.

befitting his Russian heritage. His name is Pavel or Paul and his nickname to animal staff is Pascha. His sponsorship directly

impacts our ability to support and sustain the Zoo’s Amur tiger program. It means

support for more educational outreach, tiger enrichment, veterinary care, feeding and

breeding. When donors give to our animal programs, our animal programs thrive.

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Sadly, most of the wild cats are in trouble. By working together however, we can have a significant impact on their future. Through the Zoo’s breeding programs, our beautiful natural habitat exhibits, and by increasing educational programs surrounding the cats, we can reach more of the zoo-going public with vital information and awareness.

To understand the situation today, several of the big cat species have gone from healthy

populations to vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered, meaning they could be on

the verge of extinction. Two of the primary reasons for this are poaching and loss of habitat.

The illegal trade of the body parts of wild cats is rampant in many parts of the world.

Where cats and humans intersect, such as on farms and with livestock, frequently the wild cat is targeted as the culprit and killed.

Meanwhile, the staff of the Zoo is also working toward successfully breeding Amur leopards.

With around 40 left in their native range of Asia, successful breeding of these beautiful cats here at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will represent an important milestone in the continuation of the species.

Most immediately, we plan to start a cheetah breeding program. Another one of the most endangered of the big cats, cheetahs are the fastest land mammals on earth. Coveted for their skins and their body parts, they are facing extinction. The Pittsburgh Zoo &

PPG Aquarium however, is preparing to launch a captive breeding program and expand our

cheetah exhibit. By supporting this effort, it will enable us to acquire several young cheetahs of breeding age who were born in captivity in South Africa. We will be able to expand and

enhance our cheetah exhibit and help us to further support conservation efforts in the wild.

Please let us know if you would like to earmark a gift towards this new and important effort.

Time is of the essence.

In summary, wild cats need our help and we need your help with our efforts. Please consider

a gift now to support these amazing and beautiful animals. Your gift is a great investment in the future and the return on your investment is priceless.

*As this issue of Zoo Connections was going to production, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium received a generous gift from John Miclot and Cathy Rinchetti to help support our new cheetah program. Special thanks to John, a long time Zoo board member and his wife Cathy.

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2013 Individual Donors

(Annual gifts received from March 1, 2013–August 31, 2013)

$2,500 & above

Anonymous Laura Ellsworth & Bruce Teitelbaum Jan & Jeff Fisher Bob & Janine Fragasso Patrick & Rachel Kerrish Michael LaRocco* Patrick* & Candy Loughney John Miclot & Cathy Rinchetti Mike & Belinda Terzich Karen Tritten Julie & William Weil

$1,000 to 2,499

Barry & Diane Balliet Dotti & John Bechtol Georgia Berner Mrs. William Boyd Howard* & Marilyn Bruschi Jim & Peggy Douglass John & Colette* Dugan Mr. & Mrs.* Steven Elliott Drs. R. Kent & Karen Roche Galey* Phyllis I. Hoge Sara Horsman David Haugh James & Donna Hudson Mrs. W. Arch Irvin, Jr.* James & Linda Kasunick Rob Kozel Katherine King Lalor Denise Letcher & Joe McDonough Rosemary & Howard Loevner

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Kim M. Macey Stephanie Martin Mr. Richard Prosser Mellon Ryan Neupaver William & Linda Roemer Cindy* & Andy Russell The Sloan Family Mr. & Mrs. Douglas W. Stirling* Bruce & Barbara Wiegand Craig & Sally Wolfanger

$250 to $499

Al Patterson Thomas & Rosemary Barton, Jr. Cynthia A. Bognar Susan Summers Brown Frank Cimimo & Rachel Peoples Denise Crosby Carolyn A. Davis Mary & John DeGeorge Paula S. Gesselberty Steven Hecht Hans & June Jonas Gail & Tom Litwiler David & Roseann Maegle Patrick Osborne Paul F. Skirtich Andrea N. Spade Myra Toomey Anthony & Maureen Turo Susan & Timothy Vismor

$50 to $249

William D. & Sharon S. Abraham Steve Bateman Judith & Marvin L. Bellin Elizabeth & Jean Bennett Mr. John Besspiata Betty & Lee Blose Carol Brickley Chris Cicotello Anonymous Heth & Dana Daley Emma & Edward Diaz Angela Grace Lynn Fasold Dwayne C. Fielder Debra & Eric Frantz Richard M. Gasperini Mr. Michael F. Golde Timothy & Alison Gray James & Constance Hallam Charles Harff John A. Harper Henry & Nell Herchenroether Aleta & Dennis Howryla Vicki & J. Scott Kelley Ann Kelton & Jefferey Hritz Frank & Edith Klebacha Sarah & Lars Kuehn Diana Lamer Mary Ellen Lancaster Leona K. LaValley Martin & Alice Lieb Harley Jean Lindeberg Jeff & Kristin Matheny

Barbara McCabe David & Linda McCreary Earl McDaniel Veronica L. McDonough Anchors Robert McMaster & Beverly McGrath Harvey Morris Mrs. Kenneth Neuhausan Nigra Family Beth & Dave Nowka Katelynn Orlasky Patrick Osborne Kenneth Patterson Jorge Vazquez & Carmen Perez Shirley A. Placke Fred & Renee Quinn Paul Resnick Nancy Sue & Ronald Riggle Paul & Judith Rockar Barbara Schneider Sheri & Jack Schweiger, Jr Mr. J.W. Skooglund Ms. Ann Slonaker Ellen S. & Thomas R. Smith Jerry & Anna Stewart Patirica Tapke Susan Thomas John & Pam Thompson Raymond & Mary Tomasello Nancy Urban & Wendy McCabe Cathie & John Visconti Mary & Mark Wilkins Helen A. Wilson Carrie & David Work

Below $50

Donna & Mark Affeltranger Edward Alo & Olive Tiller Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Angerman John & Rebecca Ayres

Michael & Carol Azar Christina Baker Steven & Yasuko Balsomico Sarah & Brian Bellissimo Teresa & Nicholas Benavides Mark Berger & Kara Panchik Karen Berinsky Danyele & Craig Bernick Carolyn & Averill Blanchard Kaitlin Bosle & Chucky Clevenger Diane & James Boyle Daniel A. Brannan Susan Brode & David Schwartzman Donna & Timothy Brunelli James & Patricia Cairns Roger & Anna Capistrant Mary Ellen & Bryan Carey Robert & Barbara Caughey Meghan Cernuska Taiwen & Alice Chen Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Cioletti Molly Coltharp Joan & Raymond Connolly Arthur & Shirley Coops Brett Cornell & Tamara Luffy Michael E. Coyne Mary Lang & Thomas Cummings Heth & Dana Daley Destiny & Adam Day Mr. William S. Debone Jr. Carrie & Marc Delrosso Bonnie J. Demeda Michelle & Michael Desavage Kathleen Dewalt & Robert Hoover Brittany Dulaney & Ryan Hepinger Angela Grace Lynn Fasold Angela Grace Lynn Fasold Mark C. Faurie Paul N. Faville, Jr.

Lisa Ferrante Ronald Fischer Renee Fisher Teri Flatley Leonard Fresh & Trina Yekel Kelly Friday Mr. & Mrs. John W. Frombach Kathy & Colleen Galloway Kathy & Colleen Galloway Francis Gibala & Patricia Marzano Donald & Margaret Gibson Theodore Gregory Linda Hackett & Tim Sullivan Sharon S. Hadley Kim Harrigal & Mark Scheatzle David W. Henry Kathryn Hiller Henry & Elsie Hillman Virginia Hoak Chris Hoffman Dawnelle & Kyle Holleran Aleta & Dennis Howryla Frank & Candy Huck Melanie & Simon Huntley Holly & Luther Ickes Jennifer Ielease Alfred & Necole Jacobsen *Indicates Board Member

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2013 Individual Donors, continued Cheri Jimeno John & Lisa Johnson Stacy Maloney & Stewart Joslin Matthew Juskowich Mary Lou Karl Vicki & J. Scott Kelley Andrew & Danyielle Komar Amy Krajci Susan Lagoy Penni & Justin Lamison Inna Lamm & Maxim Bocharov Kimberly & David Lex Elizabeth Liberman Sherry & Philip Light Ron Lockard Ms. Jane M. Lubic Donna Kay & Charles Marciano Amy L. Mattson & Victor O. Morell Hanna McCoy Nancy McCreight Sandra McGaughey & Shannon Lada Donald & Barbara McNamara Lisa McNamara Catherine Mechling Ann Meyer

Bill & Karma Minkewicz Ester & Tyson Mish William & Katie Mitchell Mark Morabito Melanie Murray Theron & Carol Myers Bonnie Neese Jennifer & Tim Oddis Jennifer & Tim Oddis Wildlife Protectors Club Melissa Osburn & Alexander Martin Timothy & Mary Ellen Ottie Papik Chris & Michelle Papik Mr. Gerald J. Pitzer Lucas & Kelly Porter Jack & Vicki Preston Cheney Priestley & Gerri Greenburg Priestley Michelle Psaros Ruth & Douglas Quint Mary & Jerry Rabinowitz John & Debbie Rohe Mark & Carol Roth Mitchel & Victoria Roth John C. & Shirley J. Ryan

Valerie & Brian Sabotta Karen Saint Sing Steven & Cynthia Schaab William & Lori Schallus Robert Schmitt Jenny & Floyd W. Schuchert Jr. Patricia Shaw Michael Shtur & Nancy Hernandez Bonnie Sieber Eloise Smith Ronald & Janie Smith Rebecca Snyder & Robert Ostrowski Kimberly & Joshua Stello Jonathan Stewart Chelsea Swank Mary & Peter Talento Ms. Kimberly Taylor Robert L. Taylor Richard & Rae Tucker Neil & Hannah Van Horn Sally & Dave Wade Karen & Frank Widina Sarah Hayes Wiggin* *Indicates Board Member

Welcome our newest donor and her designer jewelry for a cause

We want to thank and recognize Sandra Cadavid, an up-and-coming Pittsburgh handbag and jewelry designer, whose work is not only

beautiful but helps to support conservation. Recently Sandra and her partner, Yu-Ling Cheng, did a photo shoot here at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, to promote wildlife conservation and Sandra’s new line of wildlife-themed jewelry. Sandra also designed and donated

an original rhino cuff bracelet for the International Elephant & Rhino Symposium, recently hosted by the Zoo. The funds raised from the sale of the bracelet went to rhino conservation in the wild. Visit www.sandracadavid.com 6

Commemorative, Honor, & Memorial Gifts Thank you for thinking of the Zoo as you honor or remember someone special In memory of Terry Casey Carolyn Hunter Beverly Dick Jill M. Fusaro Logan Fochtman Adam & Cheri Foote Courtney Keevican Anonymous Loretta Korchok Donna Korchok Elaine Linardi Maria & John Kacprzyk Margie Marks Raymond A. Murray, II Lucia Benz Rachel P. Sikorsk Katija Koehler

Rachel P. Sikorsk Katija Koehler Rosemarie Moschella Linda Raden Marie-Odile Baretsky Nancy Stinger Nicole Lolly Campbell Brian Fallon

In honor of Len Bach First United Methodist Church Lorraine Courtright Elinor & Thomas Getting Carol Caroselli’s Birthday Goldie Samuels Terry & Mario DeIullis Cynthia Jablonowski

Aaden & Alexis Ferrie Carolyn Miszuk Hadley Kalson Neil & Suzanne Alexander Ben Kirby’s 4th Birthday Jessica Olifson Sharon Roth Greg & Pam Calig Dana & Khai Dinh Annalee Kuhn Lacey Jakub Barbara & Wilson Stout’s 50th Anniversary Ruth Wintner

The Value of Annual Giving Annual giving is vital to the successful operation of the Pittsburgh Zoo &

Get Well Cliff Needham ____?___

PPG Aquarium. Membership

Diana Lamer Donation made NY United Health Group for her volunteer times as a docent

cover the cost of all that we

and ticket sales alone do not offer in sustaining our mission.

Annual giving helps to fill this gap. Contributing to the

How close do you want to get?

Join the Grow Wild Society to get a unique perspective of the animals at both family and adult-only events. It’s a VIP group that includes exclusive gatherings and behind-the-scenes tours. Membership

Zoo plays an important role in providing care for our animals, supporting our educational programs, and aiding in our on-site and international

in the Grow Wild Society gives you a closer partnership

conservation efforts. Thank

with the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium while

you to the individuals on the

supporting its vital mission.

following pages for being a part

So join today and get a whole new view of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. pittsburghzoo.org/Donate/GrowWildSociety or call 412-365-2540

of our donor family.

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Give the Gift that Keeps on Giving: A Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Membership

Great News, Great Development, Great Growth for the baby Gorilla

A Zoo Membership is a passport to family fun and adventure. Treat somebody you love to a gift Membership.

It includes 12 months of unlimited free admission to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, free parking, discounted admission to 130 other zoos, education program discounts, exclusive access to

Despite a bumpy start, our baby Western lowland gorilla is a star. Now back with his

mother and gorilla troop full-time, he is thriving. When he was born several months ago,

everything started out fine until his mother, Moka, developed a severe case of mastitis and the baby couldn’t nurse. While Moka was being treated for the mastitis, her milk supply dried up and baby had to be raised on bottles of human infant formula. With 24-hour

human care, the baby gorilla grew and grew, and received constant care and attention while continuing to have daily visits with his mom and gorilla troop. The constant

attention and care helped the baby to

events, and much more!

become very comfortable with human

Click here for more

important for the future when he may

information.

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handling, something that is critically

need to be examined, vaccinated, or receive other kinds of vital human care.

As the baby became bigger and stronger, he was gradually transitioned onto

solid foods while still receiving formula. Very recently, he was deemed big and strong enough to be re-introduced back into his troop full-time. According

to the keeper staff, who did an amazing job getting him through the first few months of life, he has acclimated beautifully and is doing very well living life as a true Western lowland gorilla.

Through the incredible generosity of two Grow Wild families, much-needed support for the baby’s formula and diapers, neither of which had been

anticipated, was provided and a heavy burden was lifted. Now, as we go

forward with our gorilla program, we welcome ongoing support and especially sponsorship naming of this beautiful baby boy.

One of the most important ways that we can build support for our animal programs is through a naming sponsorship. To date, the baby gorilla is

without a name. For a $50,000 “adoption� or sponsorship, a donor can name

the baby, and contribute in a most direct way to the care, training and educational outreach, not only for the infant, but for the entire Western lowland gorilla troop.

As a donor, whether an individual, a family, or a business, you have the opportunity to meet with the keeper staff and learn all about the animal, in this case the baby gorilla. You talk with the animal caretakers about their experiences with the troop and with the individual gorilla. Together you select a name that would be fitting of the animal. Sponsorship and ongoing support of the exhibit, the care of

the animals, and a close and personal affiliation with the animal you name will continue on well into the future. It is a rewarding and

meaningful way to have a very direct impact on our gorilla program or other animal programs where a new baby may need to be named.

Please contact our Development Director, Janet Rose, if you would like to learn more about becoming involved as a naming sponsor or in any other way. She can be reached at jrose@pittsburghzoo.org or at 412-365-2540.

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The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is Proud to Announce…

We are delighted to introduce our new Foundation & Grants

Coordinator, Amy O’Neill. While Amy is officially new to this position, she is anything but new at the Zoo. Amy has been with the Zoo for 18 years. Since 1995, Amy has filled many

different roles, including animal keeper and trainer, education specialist, and most recently, development coordinator. Amy

Give a bear for a birthday, a tiger to your team, or a howler for the holidays. Adopting an

is an active member of the Zoo community, and serves as an Amy O’Neill

animal is a great gift for any occasion. When you adopt,

the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Yas has been with the

care, feeding, and enrichment

Zoo for eight years in many different roles. She has progressed

of Pittsburgh Zoo &

through the Visitor Services Department, where Yas gained

PPG Aquarium animals.

extensive experience getting to know the organization and

All resident animals are

becoming familiar with the many programs and projects going

available for adoption with $500 per year, depending on

on at the Zoo. Yas began as a parking lot attendant, and then Yas Hatcher

the benefits you choose.

Visit our website pittsburghzoo.org for special adoption packages. Please call 412-365-2543 to learn more about this rewarding gift idea.

Otter Species Survival Plan.

Introducing…Yas Hatcher, new Development Coordinator for

your gift helps provide for the

packages ranging from $30 to

education liaison for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums

made her way to Tram Host within her first summer. The

following summer Yas began to drive the Tram and the Train.

By her third summer with Visitor Services, Yas worked as the receptionist, staffing the front desk, answering phone calls and managing the zoo-wide radio. During her senior year of

undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, Yas interned with both the Marketing and Education Departments at the Zoo. Immediately after obtaining a Communications degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Yas joined the Development Department as

the Membership Assistant. Yas is currently a Graduate student at Point Park University,

working towards a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and working full time in Development.

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News from the International Conservation Center The International Conservation Center or ICC in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, owned and operated by the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, is breaking ground on a new and

critically important project. Phase II of the ICC Facilities is a one-acre elephant cow/calf barn for elephant mothers and their offspring. This 4.5 million dollar project, when completed, will include stalls of various sizes for the elephant mothers and calves, which is critical to support elephant herd structure and maternal instincts. The new barn will include reproductive

research laboratories, a large indoor arena enabling the elephants to exercise throughout the year, animal management offices, and a space for staff training and educational programs.

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has a long standing commitment to African

elephants. Through ground-breaking research, conservation, breeding, and management

efforts at the International Conservation Center and at the Pittsburgh Zoo, there is great hope and promise for the future of the African elephant.

To learn more or to donate, please contact our Development Department at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. By phone: 412-365-2540 or visit: ICCdonate@pittsburghzoo.org

the

save

date

APRIL 3, 2014 Join us for this exciting fashion show benefitting the animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

For more information contact 412-365-2540.

You can Donate to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium with just a click of a button By supporting the Zoo, you help save wildlife and wild places. Gifts to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium help us fulfill our mission to be a leader in zoological conservation, education, and research, while providing the region with exceptional exhibitry and unique family-centered recreation.

Visit our website for a fast, convienient, and secure way to support the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium at pittsburghzoo.org/donate.

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pittsburghzoo.org One Wild Place Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-665-3640 Zoo Connections is a newsletter for the valued supporters of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

Zoo Connections is a newsletter for the valued supporters of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium